THE ARTIST MOTHER & HER MIRROR IMAGE IN A DAUGHTER.
I met the mother of Vanessa Caro, Miss Universe Philippines Iloilo Province 2022, while visiting Vanessa in her flat at Aruga, Rockwell in Makati. Her name is Patricia Kehaulani Chang.
Of course, she is beautiful. Of course, she is tall. Of course, she has the thin waistline her age like Vanessa has hers in her prime. But of course, she is so nice. A soft spoken Ilongga who is as delicate as a cattleya.
While Vanessa looks more Asian while her mom looks more Caucasian, the hints of multi-ethnic beauties sparkle clearly. Ergo, the first thing I asked was Patricia’s roots. Her father was from Cebu and her mom from Hawaii where Patricia was born and raised.
Patricia has Portuguese Spanish and Chinese bloodline. It just explains why Vanessa went to a Chinese school in Iloilo City, the Hua Siong College. With her multi-ethnicity comes her multi-lingual tongue including the local dialect Ilonggo. She went to finish her degree in accounting at Central Philippine University, a school established by the Americans, in Jaro, Iloilo City.
If you’re a daughter, your mother is one person who will always be able to embrace you. I witnessed that with the duo. The mirror image is--- Vanessa is closest to her mom embracing her as if she is her friend her age.
Patricia is now a single parent whose husband, an engineer, took the boat from the Philippines to Hawaii and became a successful construction entrepreneur for many years. With his humble beginnings in Hawaii, the pure-blooded Ilonggo from Calinog, Iloilo, had an inspiring story. His hometown, a place of the mountain dwelling tribe of Panay Bukidnon– the largest indigenous peoples of Iloilo province, are grounding Vanessa’s core advocacy to empower Filipino women including culture bearers and artisans of this tribe. It comes in full circle for Vanessa much to honor the roots of her father.
Patricia is a polynesian dance artist and instructor in Waikiki, Hawaii where she taught young girls and adults the art of hula and tahitian dance for 30 long years. She also taught the art form in Japan and consequently put up a dance school in Jaro, Iloilo City.
She taught the polynesian dance to Vanessa at age two who succeeded to teach the art as well and consequently donated her earnings to charity. Even when Vanessa was at the City University of New York for her Master’s Degree in Professional Studies and Public Relations or in Iloilo competing for Miss Iloilo Dinagyang which she won in 2016, she went on-line to dance. Dance is her fitness regimen as well. Add marathon, too.
Vanessa’s parents have long been philanthropists whose dedication to help the needy out of their volunteerism with Rotary Club of Iloilo City instills in the young Vanessa to give back to the community as well.
Vanessa tells me stories of how her mom takes her to gather tropical foliage and flowers to adorn their hair when they perform on stage or just one of those fun days with family members in their front yard. I guess Vanessa chooses to confide with her mother in matters like performing arts than other women will do otherwise because she blooms creatively with her mother in her arms.
I thought they are rare beauties. Precious. However, what is inspiring is to celebrate the unique and wonderful relationships between a mother and a daughter. Patricia is supportive. Vanessa is appreciative.
It works universally unique for a mother – daughter mirror image.
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| VANESSA SPEAKS OF HER MOTHER For many, our mothers are the real MVPs in our lives. I moved to the Philippines from Hawaii with my parents at eight years old. At the time, it was a big adjustment for a kid who left everything she knew. After 50 years of hard work, my father was ready to retire and return to his true home - Iloilo. I cried in my mother's lap every day, wondering how I could get back to Hawaii. While I remember being in agony, I'm grateful for my parents moving to the Philippines because I can't imagine a life without its culture ingrained in me. While I speak of past challenges, as a young adult today, I can't help but think of my mother, who had to adjust her life because of her love for me and my father. She was a professional Polynesian performer and designer in her prime for over 30 years in Waikiki. How could she pack up her things and leave. As we celebrate International Mother Language Day today, I hope we also remember the people who teach us the language. I'm honored to have learned the Hiligaynon language (and continue learning it), but even more proud that after 15 years of living in Iloilo, my mother, part Visayan, instilled the importance of the English language. Without her, I couldn't communicate with people worldwide, share this story, and post this today. |
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| The multi-ethnic beauties. Filipino Portuguese Spanish and Chinese |
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| Vanessa's whistle bait waistline she got from her mom. |
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| Vanessa and her mom in Hawaii. |
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| Mother and child in Iloilo Province, the place they call home. |
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| Having fun in Vanessa's birthplace--Hawaii |
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The young Patricia Kehaulani Chang, a beautiful woman of mixed races.  |
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Dennis S. Mallada Jemuel Jr Barrera Garcia Jun-g Bayona Candelario Genevieve Nares Bob Montalban Hector Totong Gellangarin Vanessa Caro Chato Javellana Benjie Emboltorio Sevilla
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